What is Signal Messenger?

Understanding Signal Messenger

Signal Messenger is a secure, open-source messaging application focused on end-to-end encryption (E2EE) and user privacy. Developed by the non-profit Signal Foundation and Signal Messenger LLC, it provides text, voice, and video communication with robust cryptographic protocols (Signal Protocol) protecting messages in transit. The app collects minimal metadata, uses sealed sender technology to obscure sender information, and doesn’t store user contacts or message history on centralized servers. Signal also implements safety features like disappearing messages, screen security, and PIN-based registration lock. While originally popular among privacy advocates, it has gained mainstream usage due to its strong security posture, absence of ads, and user-friendly interface. Organizations and individuals alike adopt Signal for highly confidential communications, but centralized backups or user screenshots may still leak content. Ensuring endpoint devices remain uncompromised is critical to maintaining Signal’s privacy benefits.